Methods for treating neurogenic inflammation

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to methods for treating neurogenic inflammation pain. The methods include administering an effective amount of a composition which includes a botulinum toxin component and a substance P component to a patient, thereby treating the neurogenic inflammation pain.

This application is a continuation and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/284,505, filed Nov. 22, 2005, a divisional that claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/082,691, filed Feb. 25, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,329, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to methods for treating inflammation pain, for example, neurogenic inflammation pain. In particular, the present invention relates to methods for treating pain using Clostridial toxin compositions and methods for making the Clostridial toxin compositions.

In recent years attention has been directed toward the interaction between components of the nervous system and target cells of the immune system. Communication between nerve cells and cells which mediate inflammation is demonstrative of such neuroimmune interactions. For example, several studies have demonstrated that mast cells and vascular endothelial cells are often in close contact with nerves and that there may be a functional interaction between these cells and the nervous system. In addition, recent evidence suggests that the neuropeptide substance P is an important mediator in cross talk between nerves and inflammation mediating cells.

Mast cells and vascular endothelial cells present a rich source of inflammation mediating compounds which include histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, neutral proteases, cytokines, bradykinin and nitric oxide. It is postulated that in response to stimulus, substance P may be released from nerve cells and then bind to inflammation mediating cells subsequently triggering release of these and/or other compounds resulting in inflammation. This inflammation is thought to produce pain which includes fibromyalgia pain, migraine headache, arthritis pain, interstitial cystitis pain, myofascial pain syndrome and irritable bowel pain.

What is needed are methods to stop or reduce the occurrence of inflammation and inflammation related pain which occurs in response to neural stimulus.

Botulinum Toxin

The anaerobic, gram positive bacterium Clostridium botulinum produces a potent polypeptide neurotoxin, botulinum toxin, which causes a neuroparalytic illness in humans and animals referred to as botulism. The spores of Clostridium botulinum are found in soil and can grow in improperly sterilized and sealed food containers of home based canneries, which are the cause of many of the cases of botulism. The effects of botulism typically appear 18 to 36 hours after eating the foodstuffs infected with a Clostridium botulinum culture or spores. The botulinum toxin can apparently pass unattenuated through the lining of the gut and attack peripheral motor neurons. Symptoms of botulinum toxin intoxication can progress from difficulty walking, swallowing, and speaking to paralysis of the respiratory muscles and death.

Botulinum toxin type A (“BoNT/A”) is the most lethal natural biological agent known to man. About 50 picograms of botulinum toxin (purified neurotoxin complex) serotype A is a LD₅₀ in mice. One unit (U) of botulinum toxin is defined as the LD₅₀ upon intraperitoneal injection into female Swiss Webster mice weighing 18-20 grams each. Seven immunologically distinct botulinum neurotoxins have been characterized, these being respectively botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, B, C₁, D, E, F and G each of which is distinguished by neutralization with serotype-specific antibodies. The different serotypes of botulinum toxin vary in the animal species that they affect and in the severity and duration of the paralysis they evoke. For example, it has been determined that BoNt/A is 500 times more potent, as measured by the rate of paralysis produced in the rat, than is botulinum toxin serotype B (BoNT/B). Additionally, botulinum toxin type B (“BoNt/B”) has been determined to be non-toxic in primates at a dose of 480 U/kg which is about 12 times the primate LD₅₀ for BoNt/A. Botulinum toxin apparently binds with high affinity to cholinergic motor neurons, is translocated into the neuron and blocks the release of acetylcholine.

Botulinum toxins have been used in clinical settings for the treatment of neuromuscular disorders characterized by hyperactive skeletal muscles. Botulinum toxins, and modified botulinum toxins, are also useful for the treatment of pain, see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,113,915; 6,333,037; 6,235,289; 5,714,468 and; WO 94/15629 each of which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

BoNt/A has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of blepharospasm, strabismus, hemifacial spasm and cervical dystonia. Additionally a botulinum toxin type B has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of cervical dystonia. Non-serotype A botulinum toxin serotypes apparently have a lower potency and/or a shorter duration of activity as compared to BoNt/A. Clinical effects of peripheral intramuscular BoNt/A are usually seen within one week of injection. The typical duration of symptomatic relief from a single intramuscular injection of BoNt/A averages about three months.

Although all the botulinum toxins serotypes apparently inhibit release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, they do so by affecting different neurosecretory proteins and/or cleaving these proteins at different sites. For example, botulinum serotypes A and E both cleave the 25 kiloDalton (kD) synaptosomal associated protein (SNAP-25), but they target different amino acid sequences within this protein. BoNT/B, D, F and G act on vesicle-associated protein (VAMP, also called synaptobrevin), with each serotype cleaving the protein at a different site. Finally, botulinum toxin serotype C₁ (BoNT/C₁) has been shown to cleave both syntaxin and SNAP-25. These differences in mechanism of action may affect the relative potency and/or duration of action of the various botulinum toxin serotypes.

Regardless of serotype, the molecular mechanism of toxin intoxication appears to be similar and to involve at least three steps or stages. In the first step of the process, the toxin binds to the presynaptic membrane of the target neuron through a specific interaction between the H chain and a cell surface receptor; the receptor is thought to be different for each serotype of botulinum toxin and for tetanus toxin. The carboxyl end segment of the H chain, H_(c), appears to be important for targeting of the toxin to the cell surface.

In the second step, the toxin crosses the plasma membrane of the poisoned cell. The toxin is first engulfed by the cell through receptor-mediated endocytosis, and an endosome containing the toxin is formed. The toxin then escapes the endosome into the cytoplasm of the cell. This last step is thought to be mediated by the amino end segment of the H chain, H_(N), which triggers a conformational change of the toxin in response to a pH of about 5.5 or lower. Endosomes are known to possess a proton pump which decreases intra endosomal pH. The conformational shift exposes hydrophobic residues in the toxin, which permits the toxin to embed itself in the endosomal membrane. The toxin then translocates through the endosomal membrane into the cytosol.

The last step of the mechanism of botulinum toxin activity appears to involve reduction of the disulfide bond joining the H and L chain. The entire toxic activity of botulinum and tetanus toxins is contained in the L chain of the holotoxin; the L chain is a zinc (Zn++) endopeptidase which selectively cleaves proteins essential for recognition and docking of neurotransmitter-containing vesicles with the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane, and fusion of the vesicles with the plasma membrane. Tetanus neurotoxin, botulinum toxin, B, D, F, and G cause degradation of synaptobrevin (also called vesicle-associated membrane protein (VAMP)), a synaptosomal membrane protein. Most of the VAMP present at the cytosolic surface of the synaptic vesicle is removed as a result of any one of these cleavage events. Each toxin specifically cleaves a different bond.

The molecular weight of the botulinum toxin protein molecule, for all seven of the known botulinum toxin serotypes, is about 150 kD. Interestingly, the botulinum toxins are released by Clostridial bacterium as complexes comprising the 150 kD botulinum toxin protein molecule along with associated non-toxin proteins. Thus, the BoNt/A complex can be produced by Clostridial bacterium as 900 kD, 500 kD and 300 kD forms. BoNT/B and C₁ are apparently produced as only a 500 kD complex. BoNT/D is produced as both 300 kD and 500 kD complexes. Finally, BoNT/E and F are produced as only approximately 300 kD complexes. The complexes (i.e. molecular weight greater than about 150 kD) are believed to contain a non-toxin hemagglutinin protein and a non-toxin and non-toxic nonhemagglutinin protein. These two non-toxin proteins (which along with the botulinum toxin molecule comprise the relevant neurotoxin complex) may act to provide stability against denaturation to the botulinum toxin molecule and protection against digestive acids when toxin is ingested. Additionally, it is possible that the larger (greater than about 150 kD molecular weight) botulinum toxin complexes may result in a slower rate of diffusion of the botulinum toxin away from a site of intramuscular injection of a botulinum toxin complex.

In vitro studies have indicated that botulinum toxin inhibits potassium cation induced release of both acetylcholine and norepinephrine from primary cell cultures of brainstem tissue. Additionally, it has been reported that botulinum toxin inhibits the evoked release of both glycine and glutamate in primary cultures of spinal cord neurons and that in brain synaptosome preparations botulinum toxin inhibits the release of each of the neurotransmitters acetylcholine, dopamine, norepinephrine, CGRP and glutamate.

BoNt/A can be obtained by establishing and growing cultures of Clostridium botulinum in a fermenter and then harvesting and purifying the fermented mixture in accordance with known procedures. All the botulinum toxin serotypes are initially synthesized as inactive single chain proteins which must be cleaved or nicked by proteases to become neuroactive. The bacterial strains that make botulinum toxin serotypes A and G possess endogenous proteases and serotypes A and G can therefore be recovered from bacterial cultures in predominantly their active form. In contrast, botulinum toxin serotypes C₁ D and E are synthesized by nonproteolytic strains and are therefore typically unactivated when recovered from culture. Serotypes B and F are produced by both proteolytic and nonproteolytic strains and therefore can be recovered in either the active or inactive form. However, even the proteolytic strains that produce, for example, the BoNt/B serotype only cleave a portion of the toxin produced. The exact proportion of nicked to unnicked molecules depends on the length of incubation and the temperature of the culture. Therefore, a certain percentage of any preparation of, for example, the BoNt/B toxin is likely to be inactive, possibly accounting for the known significantly lower potency of BoNt/B as compared to BoNt/A. The presence of inactive botulinum toxin molecules in a clinical preparation will contribute to the overall protein load of the preparation, which has been linked to increased antigenicity, without contributing to its clinical efficacy. Additionally, it is known that BoNt/B has, upon intramuscular injection, a shorter duration of activity and is also less potent than BoNt/A at the same dose level.

It has been reported (as exemplary examples) that BoNt/A has been used clinically as follows:

(1) about 75-125 units of BOTOX®¹ per intramuscular injection (multiple muscles) to treat cervical dystonia; ¹Available from Allergan, Inc., of Irvine, Calif. under the tradename BOTOX®.

(2) 5-10 units of BOTOX® per intramuscular injection to treat glabellar lines (brow furrows) (5 units injected intramuscularly into the procerus muscle and 10 units injected intramuscularly into each corrugator supercilii muscle);

(3) about 30-80 units of BOTOX® to treat constipation by intrasphincter injection of the puborectalis muscle;

(4) about 1-5 units per muscle of intramuscularly injected BOTOX® to treat blepharospasm by injecting the lateral pre-tarsal orbicularis oculi muscle of the upper lid and the lateral pre-tarsal orbicularis oculi of the lower lid.

(5) to treat strabismus, extraocular muscles have been injected intramuscularly with between about 1-5 units of BOTOX®, the amount injected varying based upon both the size of the muscle to be injected and the extent of muscle paralysis desired (i.e. amount of diopter correction desired).

(6) to treat upper limb spasticity following stroke by intramuscular injections of BOTOX® into five different upper limb flexor muscles, as follows:

-   -   (a) flexor digitorum profundus: 7.5 U to 30 U     -   (b) flexor digitorum sublimus: 7.5 U to 30 U     -   (c) flexor carpi ulnaris: 10 U to 40 U     -   (d) flexor carpi radialis: 15 U to 60 U     -   (e) biceps brachii: 50 U to 200 U. Each of the five indicated         muscles has been injected at the same treatment session, so that         the patient receives from 90 U to 360 U of upper limb flexor         muscle BOTOX® by intramuscular injection at each treatment         session.

The tetanus neurotoxin acts mainly in the central nervous system, while botulinum neurotoxin acts at the neuromuscular junction; both act by inhibiting acetylcholine release from the axon of the affected neuron into the synapse, resulting in paralysis. The effect of intoxication on the affected neuron is long lasting and until recently has been thought to be irreversible. The tetanus neurotoxin is known to exist in one immunologically distinct serotype.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides for methods to treat various types of inflammation and pain associated with inflammation.

In accordance with the present invention there are provided methods for treating neurogenic inflammation and neurogenic inflammation pain. The methods may include administering an effective amount of a composition which includes a botulinum toxin component and a substance P component to a patient thereby treating the neurogenic inflammation and/or neurogenic inflammation pain.

The botulinum toxin component may include an H_(N) and an L chain. For example, the H_(N) may be obtained from a botulinum toxin serotype A, serotype B, serotype C, serotype D, serotype E, serotype F or serotype G. Also for example, the L chain may be obtained from a botulinum toxin serotype A, serotype B, serotype C, serotype D, serotype E, serotype F or serotype G.

In accordance with the invention the substance P component may be a substance P, a precursor of substance P or a substance P analogue.

The present invention provides for methods for treating pain caused by inflammation including fibromyalgia pain, myofascial pain syndrome pain, arthritis pain, migraine headache pain, irritable bowel syndrome pain, Crohn's disease pain and interstitial cystitis pain.

In accordance with the present invention, the compositions may be administered subcutaneously, intramuscularly or systemically. The compositions may be administered with a needle, by needleless injection orally, by inhalable delivery methods such as an inhalable mist or like methods.

Methods of the present invention provide for pain relief ranging from about 5% to about 100% in effectiveness. For example, pain may be reduced by about 20%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 80% or about 100%.

The present invention also provides for methods for inhibiting pain caused by degranulation of mast cells and/or release of inflammation mediating compounds from vascular endothelial cells. The method may include administering to a patient an effective amount of a composition which includes a botulinum toxin component attached to a substance P component, thereby inhibiting pain caused by degranulation of mast cells and/or release of inflammation mediating compounds from vascular endothelial cells. For example, the present invention provides for methods for inhibiting pain caused by histamine release from mast cells. These methods may include administering to a patient an effective amount of a composition which includes a botulinum toxin component attached to a substance P component, thereby inhibiting pain caused by histamine release from mast cells.

Each and every feature described herein, and each and every combination of two or more of such features, is included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in such a combination are not mutually inconsistent.

DEFINITIONS

An “agent” is defined as a modified neurotoxin that possesses some or all of the biological activity biological activity of an unmodified neurotoxin. Modified neurotoxins include variants and fragments of neurotoxins. One example of a modified neurotoxin, as disclosed herein, is a portion of a botulinum toxin coupled to a substance P molecule.

A “clostridial neurotoxin” may refer to an intact toxin for example a botulinum toxin, butyricum toxin or tetani toxin or a fragment or portion of a toxin for example a fragment or portion of a botulimum toxin, butyricum toxin or tetani toxin.

“H_(C)” means a fragment obtained from the H chain of a Clostridial toxin which is equivalent, for example functionally equivalent, to the carboxyl end fragment of the H chain, or the portion corresponding to that fragment in the intact H chain involved in binding to a cell surface or cell surface receptor.

“H_(N)” means a fragment or variant obtained from an H chain of a Clostridial toxin which may be functionally equivalent to the portion of an intact H chain involved in the translocation of at least the L chain across an intracellular endosomal membrane into a cytoplasm of a cell. An H_(N), may result from an H_(c) being removed from an H chain. An H_(N) may also result from an H chain being modified such that its H_(C) no longer binds to cholinergic cell surfaces.

“Heavy chain” means the heavy chain of a clostridial neurotoxin or a fragment or variant of an H_(N) of a clostridial neurotoxin. A heavy chain may have a molecular weight of about 100 kDa and can be referred to as H chain, or as H.

“LH_(N)” means a fragment obtained from a clostridial neurotoxin that contains the L chain coupled to an H_(N). LH_(N) can be obtained from the intact clostridial neurotoxin by proteolysis, so as to remove or to modify the H_(C) domain.

“Light chain” means the light chain of a clostridial neurotoxin or a fragment or variant of a light chain of a clostridial neurotoxin. A light chain may have a molecular weight of about 50 kDa, and can be referred to as L chain, L, or as the proteolytic domain (amino acid sequence) of a clostridial neurotoxin.

“Linker” means a molecule which couples two or more other molecules or components together.

“Local administration” means direct administration by a non-systemic route at or in the vicinity of the site of an affliction, disorder, or perceived pain.

“Neurogenic” means arising from the nervous system. For example, neurogenic inflammation refers to inflammation that may be caused, at least in part, directly or indirectly, by the nervous system.

“Spacer” means a molecule or set of molecules which physically separate and add distance between the components. One function of a spacer may be to prevent steric hindrance between the components.

“Substantial or Substantially” means largely but not entirely. For example, substantial relief of pain may mean pain relief of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% 50% or more.

“Targeting moiety” means a molecule that has a specific binding affinity for a cell surface or cell surface receptor.

“Variable region” means the part of an antibody that varies extensively from one antibody to another as a result of alternative subunit sequences.

“Variant” means a molecule or peptide which is substantially the same as that of a disclosed molecule or peptide in its structure and function. For example, a variant of a specified light chain may have non-consequential amino acid sequence substitutions when compared to the amino acid sequence of the specified light chain. Variants may be considered to be equivalent to the specifically disclosed molecules and as such are within the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION

This invention is based upon the discovery that inflammation pain can be treated by administering to a patient an agent which includes a clostridial neurotoxin component and a targeting moiety component, wherein the targeting moiety component may bind to cells involved in mediating inflammation.

The mechanism of action for these agents in alleviating pain is currently not fully understood. However, without wishing to limit the invention to any particular theory or mechanism of operation, it is believed that the agents disclosed herein may target cells, for example, mast cells and/or vascular endothelial cells which may have receptors for the targeting moieties, for example, a substance P targeting moiety.

Mast cells and vascular endothelial cells present many distinct biologically active, inflammation mediators that may include histamine, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, neutral proteases, cytokines bradykinin and nitric oxide. Release of these and/or other mediators may contribute to the events which cause neurogenic inflammation. Further examples of mediators that may contribute to neurogenic inflammation are discussed in First (U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,768) which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.

Sensory neurons containing substance P are thought to be involved in regulating the inflammatory and immune response in the peripheral tissues that they innervate. It is theorized that these sensory neurons release substance P which binds to and causes secretion from inflammation mediating cells. For example, substance P may bind to mast cell receptor sites thereafter triggering degranulation which includes secretion from mast cells of histamine, prostiglandins, leukotrines, serotonin and other molecules that may serve as inflammatory mediators (Spanos et al. J of Urology Vol 157 p 669-672; Toyoda et al Arch Dermatol Res Vol 292 p 418-421). In another example, substance P may trigger release of inflammation mediators such as bradykinin, nitric oxide and vasoactive intestinal peptide from vascular endothelial cells.

It is theorized that inflammatory mediator release triggered by substance P begins with the initial binding of substance P to specific receptors which may be mobile and randomly distributed on the membrane surface of certain cells, for example, mast cells and/or vascular endothelial cells. These substance P-receptor complexes may accumulate in specialized regions of the membrane termed coated pits. From this stage, receptor mediated endocytosis (RME) may proceed to the formation of smooth-walled vesicles which allow entry of the substance P-receptor complexes into the cell. These vesicles, often referred to as “endosomes” or “receptosomes,” may fuse together or combine to produce larger vesicles. Subsequently, the internal pH of the endosomes may be decreased by the action of proton pumps. This decrease in pH may change the conformation of the receptor and/or substance P resulting in the release of the substance P from the receptor and the formation of separate receptor-containing vesicles and substance P-containing containing vesicles. The resulting substance P vesicles along with the internalized substance P, may be delivered to and fused with lysosomes where the eventual breakdown of the vesicles and release of the substance P likely takes place.

It is thought that at some point after formation of the substance P-receptor complex, possibly after internalization of the complex, release of inflammation mediators is triggered.

During secretion or exocytosis, the mediators may be included in vesicles which fuse to the inner surface of the cell membrane thereby releasing the vesicle contents to the outside of the cell. Without wishing to limit the present invention to any theory or mechanism of operation, it is theorized that interference with the exocytosis process may be the mode of action of the agents of the present invention.

It is theorized that agents of the present invention may operate by first targeting inflammation mediating cells by use of a targeting moiety component such as substance P, and then prevent or reduce the secretion of inflammation producing molecules by cleaving or by otherwise interfering with the function of proteins involved in the secretory process by use of a light chain component, for example, a botulinum light chain component. A heavy chain component, for example H_(N), may also function in certain embodiments of the present invention by, for example, assisting in the release of an agent of the invention from intracellular vesicles, for example, endosomes.

The agents described for use in this invention may be very specific for treating inflammation pain without being cytotoxic because they may not substantially or significantly interact with and/or interfere with neurons. Also, the agents can alleviate pain without being cytotoxic to their target neurons. Because of lack of neural interaction and lack of cytotoxicity, agents within the scope of the present invention can be administered either locally at or near sites of inflammation or inflammation pain or systemically.

Agents may be used to treat conditions cause by inflammation, for example neurogenic inflammation. Examples of conditions caused by neurogenic inflammation that may be treated by methods of the present invention include pain associated with fibromyalgia, certain forms of arthritis, myofascial pain syndrome, interstitial cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Additional examples of conditions that may be treated in accordance with the present invention include myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus, organ transplant, tissue transplant, fluid transplant, Graves disease, thyrotoxicosis, autoimmune diabetes, haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopenic purpura, neutropenia, chronic autoimmune hepatitis, autoimmune gastritis, pernicious anaemia, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Addison's disease, Sjogren's syndrome, primary biliar cirrhosis, polymyositis, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, pemphigus vulgaris, bullous pemphigoid, myocarditis, rheumatic carditis, glomerulonephritis, uveitis, orchitis, ulcerative colitis, vasculitis, atrophic gastritis, pernicious anaemia, type 1 diabetes mellitus. Further examples of conditions that may be caused by neurogenic inflammation that may be treated by methods of the present invention are discussed in First (U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,768).

According to one broad aspect of the invention, methods are provided for the use of a clostridial neurotoxin component covalently coupled to a targeting moiety. The clostridial neurotoxin component may be obtained from Clostridium beratti, Clostridium butyricum, or Clostridium botulinum, for example, Clostridium botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G may be used.

The clostridial neurotoxin component may include only a fragment of the entire neurotoxin. For example, it is known in the art that the H_(c) of the neurotoxin molecule can be removed from the other segment of the H chain, the H_(N), such that the H_(N) fragment remains disulphide linked to the L chain of the neurotoxin molecule to provide a fragment known as the LH_(N). In addition, LH_(N) can be produced by modifying the H_(c) fragment to reduce or eliminate the targeting affinity or ability of H_(C) to bind to its native target site. H_(C) can be modified by methods known in the art, for example, alterations to the amino acid sequence of the H_(c) or chemical modification to the H_(c). Furthermore, the light chain or a fragment of the light chain, with no associated H chain or H chain fragment, can be coupled to a targeting moiety in accordance with the present invention. Therefore, in one embodiment of the present invention LH_(N) of a clostridial neurotoxin is covalently coupled to a targeting moiety, for example, substance P. In another embodiment, the L chain of a clostridial neurotoxin is covalently coupled to a targeting moiety, for example, substance P.

In another embodiment, the agent includes an H chain of a clostridial neurotoxin, in which the H_(c) is removed, mutated or chemically modified to reduce or eliminate the ability of H_(c) to bind to the neurotoxin receptors at the neuromuscular junction combined with the L-chain of a different clostridial neurotoxin, to form a hybrid. For example, in one embodiment, the clostridial neurotoxin component comprises an H chain with the H_(c) removed, mutated or chemically modified obtained from botulinum toxin type A, and an L chain obtained from another botulinum toxin type. The described hybrid is covalently coupled to a targeting moiety.

In another embodiment, the agent includes an L chain of a clostridial neurotoxin, or a fragment of the L chain containing the endopeptidase activity, linked to a targeting moiety.

In a broad embodiment, spacers may be used to physically separate components of agents used in accordance with the present invention. For example, an agent of the present invention may comprise an L chain or a LH_(N) connected to a targeting moiety, for example substance P, through a spacer. A spacer may function to create a distance between the components to minimize or eliminate steric hindrance of the components that may otherwise occur.

In one embodiment, the spacer region is made up of sugar molecules, for example, saccharides, glucose, etc. In another embodiment, the spacer region may be constructed from an aliphatic chain. In another embodiment, the spacer regions may be constructed by linking together a series of amino acids, preferably glycine because glycine are small and are devoid of any functional group. In yet another embodiment, the spacer region may comprise one or more of the sugar molecules, aliphatic chains, and amino acids.

In one embodiment, a spacer comprises a proline, serine, threonine and/or cysteine-rich amino acid sequence similar or identical to an immunoglobulin hinge region. For example, the spacer may comprise the amino acid sequence of a human immunoglobulin g1 hinge region.

Spacers may comprise hydrocarbon moieties, for example, hydrocarbon moieties represented by the chemical formulas:

HOOC—(CH₂)_(n)—COOH, where n=1-12 or,

HO—(CH₂)_(n)—COOH, where n>10

In one embodiment, linkers may be used to link together two or more molecules, components and/or spacers. For example, a Linker may be used to link a targeting moiety to a L or LH_(N). In another embodiment, a Linker (Y) may be employed to link an L or LH_(N) to a spacer; in turn, that spacer may then be linked to targeting moiety by another Linker (Y), forming, for example, an agent comprising the structure:

L-Y-Spacer-Y-Targeting Moiety.

Examples of substances that can be used as linker (Y) are 2-iminothiolane, N-succinimidyl-3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP), 4-succinimidyloxycarbonyl-alpha-(2-pyridyldithio)toluene (SMPT), m-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (MBS), N-succinimidyl(4-iodoacetyl)aminobenzoate (SIAB), succinimidyl 4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyrate (SMPB), 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC), bis-diazobenzidine and glutaraldehyde.

In one embodiment, a linker may be attached to an amino group, a carboxylic group, a sulfhydryl group or a hydroxyl group or an amino group of a component. For example, a linker may be linked to a carboxyl acid group of an amino acid of a targeting moiety.

Although the described chemistry may be used to couple components of agents used in the invention, any other coupling chemistry known to those skilled in the art capable of chemically attaching one component to another component of an agent of the invention is included within the scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment, an agent comprises an H_(N) and/or an L chain and a targeting moiety, covalently linked together. For example, the H_(N) may be linked to the L chain and the L chain may be linked to the targeting moiety. In another example, the H_(N) may be linked to the targeting moiety and to the L chain. In still another example, the targeting moiety may be linked to H_(N) and the L chain. In still another example, the L chain may be linked to the H_(N) and the targeting moiety. Linkers and/or spacers may be used between some, all or none of the components in these examples.

In another embodiment, the targeting moieties may be components that are substantially similar to substance P. These components include substance P precursors, fragments and analogs. The history, isolation, identification, and synthesis of substance P and its precursors, fragments and analogs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,842 (incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).

Substance P is an 11 amino acid peptide which has a number of different natural and synthetic precursor forms; has been demonstrated to be converted into a variety of naturally occurring amino-terminal peptide fragments; and can be obtained in analog format compromising, substituted counterparts thereof, for example, lysine methyl ester, D-amino acids or disulfide bridges substitutions, which may thereby yield more stable and discriminating formulations. A representative listing of substance P and its related chemical entities is provided by Table I below. The amino acid sequence (1) in Table I (Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-amide) can be referred to as SEQ ID NO: 1, and the subsequent 17 amino acid sequences set forth in Table one can be similarly identified as SEQ ID NO:2 to SEQ ID NO:18.

TABLE 1 Substance P, and Representative Precursors, Fragments and Stabilized Or Substituted Analogs SEQ ID Name Formula NO: (1) Substance P Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-amide 1 Natural Precursors: (2) Substance P-Glycine* Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-Gly 2 (3) Substance P-Glycine- Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-Gly- 3 Lysine* Lys (4) Substance P-Glycine- Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-Gly- 4 Lysine-Arginine* Lys-Arg Carboxy-Ester Synthetic Precursors: (5) Substance P-Glycine Methyl Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-Gly- 5 Ester° OMe (6) Substance P-Glycine-Lysine Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-Gly- 6 Methyl Ester° Lys-OMe (7) Substance P-Glycine-Lysine Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-Gly- 7 Arginine Methyl Ester° Lys-Arg-OMe (8) Substance P-Glycine Ethyl Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-Gly- 8 Ester° OEth (9) Substance P-Glycine-Lysine Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-Gly- 9 Ethyl Ester° Lys-OEth (10) Substance P-Glycine- Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly-Leu-Met-Gly- 10 Lysine Arginine Ethyl Ester° Lys-Arg-OEth Naturally-Occurring Amino-Terminal Peptide Fragments: (11) Substance P/1-4# Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro 11 (12) Substance P/1-7# Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe 12 (13) Substance P/1-9# Arg-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-Phe-Phe-Gly 13 Analogs Comprising Synthetic D-Amino Acids Or Disulfide (Cys-Cys) Bridges: (14) [D-Pro2, D-Phe7, D-Trp9]- Arg-D-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-D-Phe-PheD-Trp-Leu-Met- 14 Substance P^(c) amide (15) [D-Pro2, D-Phe7, D-Trp9]- Arg-D-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-D-Phe-Phe-D-Trp-Leu- 15 (Substance P-Glycine^(c)) Met-Gly (16) [D-Pro2, D-Trp7, D-Trp9]- Arg-D-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-D-Trp-Phe-D-Trp-Leu-Met- 16 Substance P^(c) amide (17) [D-Pro2, D-Trp7, D-Trp9]- Arg-D-Pro-Lys-Pro-Gln-Gln-D-Trp-Phe-D-Trp-Leu-Met- 17 Substance P-Glycine^(c) Gly (18) [Cys3, Cys6, Tyr8, Pro 10]- Arg-Pro-Cys-Pro-Gln-Cys-Phe-Tyr-Gly-Pro-Met-amide 18 Substance P^(c) *Shimon et al., J. Neurochem. 59: 81-92 (1992) °Lee et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 114: 315-327 (1981); Pernow, B., Pharmacol. Rev. 35: 86-138 (1983); and Regoli et al., TIPS 9: 290-295 (1988). #Stewart et al., Nature 262: 784-785 (1986); and Skilling et al., J. Neurosci. 10: 1309-1318 (1990) ^(c)Lavielle et al., Biochem. Pharmacol. 37: 41 (1988); and Quirion, R. and T. V. Dam, Regulatory Peptides 22: 18 (1988)

In one embodiment, agents for use in accordance with the invention comprise a hybrid of two clostridial neurotoxins. For example, the H chain, in one embodiment H_(N), may be obtained from botulinum toxin A, B, C, D, E, F or G and the L chain obtained from another botulinum toxin selected from botulinum toxin A, B, C, D, E, F or G. The two chains from different botulinum toxin serotypes may be joined together by covalent bonds and/or by disulfide bonds and/or by hydrogen bonds and/or by ionic bonds to for a hybrid LH_(N). This hybrid LH_(N) may be linked to a targeting moiety, for example, substance P or a component that is substantially similar to substance P, for example, substance P precursors, substance P analogs and substance P fragments, by standard methodologies known in the art. In one embodiment the targeting moiety is covalently linked to a hybrid LH_(N).

In another embodiment, the agents comprises an L chain of a clostridial neurotoxin, or a fragment of an L chain containing the endopeptidase activity, coupled to substance P or component that is substantially similar to substance P. The L chain or fragment of the L chain is obtained from botulinum toxin A, B, C, D, E or G and is coupled to substance P or components that are substantially similar to substance P, for example, substance P precursors, substance P analogs and substance P fragments, by standard methodologies known in the art. Linkers and/or spacer components may be used in the coupling.

An agent used in accordance with the present invention may comprise a heavy chain or a portion of a heavy chain of a clostridial neurotoxin. Even more preferably, the H_(N) of the heavy chain is able to facilitate the transfer of the agent across an endosome membrane into the cytosol of a cell, for example, a mast cell. The clostridial neurotoxin heavy chain may be obtained from Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A. In other embodiments, the heavy chain may be obtained from Clostridium botulinum types B, C, D, E, F, G and mixtures thereof. Also, the heavy chain may be obtained from neurotoxins obtained from Clostridium baratii and Clostridium butyricum or Clostridium tetani.

Agents that may be used in accordance with the present invention are also disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 09/489,667, 09/922,093 and 09/625,098 which are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference.

According to another broad aspect of this invention, recombinant DNA methodologies may be used to produce the components of agents useful in accordance with the invention, including the targeting moiety, the light chain or light chain fragment and/or the heavy chain or heavy chain fragment. These techniques may include steps of obtaining cloned genes from natural sources, or from synthetic oligonucleotide sequences, which may encode clostridial neurotoxin components including clostridial neurotoxin heavy chains, light chains or variants thereof, modified clostridial neurotoxin chains and/or fragments of the chains. Cloned genes may also encode a targeting moiety.

The genes may be cloned into, for example, cloning vectors, such as phages or plasmids or phagemids. The recombinant vectors are transformed into host cells, for example, into a prokaryotic cell, for example, E. coli. Proteins can be expressed and then isolated using conventional techniques.

Fusion genes may be used which encode more than one component of an agent. For example, a targeting moiety and a botulinum toxin heavy chain and/or light chain and/or a fragment of a heavy and/or a fragment of a light chain, can be produced from a single cloned gene as a fusion protein. Alternatively, individual components obtained from recombinant techniques can be chemically coupled to other components obtain from other sources. For example, a synthetic or naturally occurring targeting moiety component may be coupled to a recombinant L chain or to a recombinant fusion LH_(N). The linkages between the clostridial components and the targeting moieties may include appropriate spacer components which may also be DNA encoded and included in the fusion gene construct.

In another embodiment, the required LH_(N), which may be a hybrid of an L chain and an H_(N) from different clostridial toxin types, is expressed recombinantly as a fusion protein. Such LH_(N) hybrid may also be coupled to the targeting moiety, which may further include one or more spacer regions between them.

In another embodiment of the invention the L chain of a clostridial neurotoxin, or a fragment of the L chain containing the endopeptidase activity, is expressed recombinantly as a fusion protein with the H_(N) of the H chain and the targeting moiety. The expressed fusion protein may also include one or more spacer regions. For example, the L chain may be fused to H_(N) which is in turn fused to the targeting moiety. In another example, the H_(N) may be fused to the L chain which is in turn fused to the targeting moiety. Spacer components may be expressed recombinantly between some or all of the components of an agent of the invention.

In one embodiment of producing a hybrid of LH_(N), the L chain is obtained from botulinum toxin type B and the amine end segment of the H_(N) chain fragment is obtained from botulinum toxin type A. The H_(N) fragment of the botulinum toxin type A is produced according to the method described by Shone C. C., Hambleton, P., and Melling, J. (1987, Eur. J. Biochem. 167, 175-180) and the L chain of botulinum toxin type B according to the method of Sathyamoorthy, V. and DasGupta, B. R. (1985, J. Biol. Chem. 260, 10461-10466). The free cysteine on the amine end segment of the H chain fragment of botulinum toxin type A is then derivatized by the addition of a ten-fold molar excess of dipyridyl disulphide followed by incubation at 4 degrees C. overnight. The excess dipyridyl disulphide and the thiopyridone by product are then removed by desalting the protein over a PD10 column (Pharmacia) into PBS.

The derivatized H_(N) is then concentrated to a protein concentration in excess of 1 mg/ml before being mixed with an equimolar portion of L chain from botulinum toxin type B (>1 mg/ml in PBS). After overnight incubation at room temperature the mixture is separated by size exclusion chromatography over Superose 6 (Pharmacia), and the fractions analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The chimeric LH_(N) is then available to produce a conjugated agent which includes a targeting moiety component.

The example described above is purely illustrative of the invention. In synthesizing the agents, the coupling of the targeting moieties to the clostridial components, for example the modified clostridial neurotoxins or fragments thereof, may be achieved via chemical coupling using reagents and techniques known to those skilled in the art. Thus, any coupling chemistry capable of covalently attaching the targeting moieties of the agents to clostridial neurotoxin components and known to those skilled in the art is covered by the scope of this application.

In one embodiment of the invention, there are provided methods for the treatment of pain which comprise locally administering directly to a region of inflammation and/or inflammation pain in a patient, in therapeutically effective doses, an agent of the invention. In another embodiment, the invention provides for administration of an agent of the invention near the site of inflammation and/or inflammation pain in a patient, for example, within about 0.1 to about 100 cm, or for example, about 1 cm to about 10 cm from the site of inflammation and/or inflammation pain.

Known local drug administration methods suitable for administration may be used including injection, with or without the use of a needle, and by insertion of a controlled release implant. Routes of administration include, without limitation, transdermal, peritoneal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intrarectal injection.

In another embodiment, a therapeutically effective dose of an agent of the invention is administered by systemic administration, for example, oral administration, intravenous administration or administration as an inhalant.

An agent, such as botulinum toxin component-substance P or components that are substantially similar to substance P can require, according to the methods of the present invention, from about 1 to 7 days to begin to achieve an effect upon a site of inflammation pain.

The amount of the agents administered can vary widely according to the particular disorder being treated, its severity and other various patient variables including size, weight, age, and responsiveness to therapy.

Methods of the present invention provide for pain relief ranging from about 5% to about 100% in effectiveness. For example, pain may be reduced by about 20%, about 40%, about 50%, about 60%, about 80% or about 100%.

Methods for determining the appropriate route of administration and dosage are generally determined on a case-by-case basis by the attending physician. Such determinations are routine to one of ordinary skill in the art (see for example, Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (1998), edited by Anthony Fauci et al., 14^(th) edition, published by McGraw Hill).

Generally, the dose of an agent to be administered will vary with the age, presenting condition and weight of the patient to be treated. The potency of the agent will also be considered. Agent (e.g. conjugate) potency is expressed as a multiple of the LD₅₀ value of an agent of the invention for a mouse. A “U” or “unit” of an agent can be defined as the amount of toxin that kills 50% of a group of mice that were disease-free prior to inoculation with the agent. Alternatively, potency may be expressed as the LD₅₀ value of an agent that would be produced by an equal molar amount of botulinum toxin with a functional H_(C).

Agents of the invention can be administered in a dose of about 0.01 units up to about 1,000 units. In one embodiment, individual dosages of about 1 unit to about 30 units are used. In another embodiment, individual dosages of about 30 units to about 60 units are used. In still another embodiment, individual dosages of about 60 units to about 180 units are used. Generally, the agents may be administered as a composition at a dosage that is proportionally equivalent to, for example, about 2.5 cc/100 units. Those of ordinary skill in the art will know, or can readily ascertain, how to adjust these dosages for an agent of greater or lesser potency.

Preferably, the lowest therapeutically effective dosage will be administered to the patient. The lowest therapeutic dosage is that dosage which results in detection by the patient of a reduction in the occurrence and/or magnitude of pain experienced by the patient, for example, pain experience by a patient which is associated with neurogenic inflammation.

Methods for assessing or quantifying the amount of pain experienced by a patient are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, a patient can be given a pain assessment test in which the patient quantifies the degree of pain based on a scale. One example would be assigning the patient's pain a number based on a scale of 1 to 10, where a “10” would indicate the worst degree of pain the patient might imagine. A pain measure of 4 from an original pain score of 8 would be a 50% reduction in pain. Thus, the amount of conjugate required to achieve that 50% reduction in pain could be considered 1 U of the clostridial toxin component-targeting moiety conjugate. Alternatively, the patient's pain may be measured as the duration of pain. One unit of the conjugate of the invention would accordingly reduce the duration of pain by 50%. In addition, a number of physiological measures, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and diaphoresis, may be used alone or together with the methods described above, to quantify the amount of the patient's pain.

In an initial treatment, a low dosage may be administered at one site to determine the patient's sensitivity to, and tolerance of, the agent. Additional administration of the same or different dosages may be performed as necessary.

In one embodiment, an agent of the invention is administered intramuscularly. However, for some indications, extramuscular injection may be the most efficacious route of administration. Such injection may, for example, be made subcutaneously or, preferably, perivascularly (to produce infiltration of the agent into innervated tissue). In one embodiment, the site for injection of the agent is in or near the extramuscular regions.

The agents may be administered by, for example, injection using a needle or by needleless injection. The injections may be repeated as necessary.

In needleless injection delivery methods, microprojectile drug particles may be coated with an agent and then discharged into the skin from an external delivery device. Depending on the discharge velocity and the distance from the injection site, the drug particles penetrate through the stratum corneum to different layers of the epidermis, dermis and underlying muscle. As the microprojectiles penetrate through epidermal and dermal cells, or are deposited in these cells, the agent is released. Individual layers of skin cells or underlying muscle cells may be targeted for the microprojectiles.

A range for administration of an agent, such as a LH_(N)-substance P conjugate (or targeting moiety substantially similar to substance P including substance P precursors, fragments and analogs), so as to achieve an antinociceptive effect in the patient treated may be from about 10⁻² U/kg to about 100 U/kg, for example between about 10⁻¹ U/kg to about 10 U/kg. Dosage for a particular agent may depend on factors such as the condition to be treated and the method of administration. An appropriate dosage in a given circumstance may readily be determined by a physician of ordinary skill.

A range for administration of an agent, such as an a L chain-substance P conjugate, (or targeting moiety substantially similar to substance P including substance P precursors, fragments and analogs) so as to achieve an antinociceptive effect in the patient treated may be from about 10⁻² U/kg to about 100 U/kg, for example between about 10⁻¹ U/kg to about 10 U/kg. Dosage for a particular agent may depend on factors such as the condition to be treated and the method of administration. An appropriate dosage in a given circumstance may readily be determined by a physician of ordinary skill.

Dosage for a particular agent may depend on factors such as the condition to be treated and the method of administration. A physician of ordinary skill may readily determine an appropriate dosage in a given circumstance.

The invention having been fully described, examples illustrating its practice are set forth below. These examples should not, however, be considered to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Methods for Determining Potency of Botulinum Toxin Component-Targeting Moiety Conjugates

The traditional unit of measure for botulinum toxin potency is the mouse LD₅₀ unit. That is, one unit (1 U) of botulinum toxin is the amount that kills 50% of a group of 18-20 gram female Swiss-Webster mice.

The unit of measure for potency of a botulinum toxin component-targeting moiety conjugate may also be determined by LD₅₀ assays. In particular, 1 U of the botulinum toxin component-targeting moiety component conjugate (for example, a LH_(N)-substance P conjugate) is the amount of the conjugate that kills 50% of a group of 18-20 gram female Swiss-Webster mice.

Alternatively, potency of botulinum toxin component-targeting moiety component conjugate may be determined by the amount of pain reduction in a patient induced by a measured amount of conjugate. For example, the pain reduction in a patient may be estimated to be 50% upon injection of a measured amount of a conjugate into a site of inflammation. Thus, the potency can be measured as the amount of conjugate that reduces a patient's pain by 50%.

Methods for assessing or quantifying the amount of pain experienced by a subject are well known to those skilled in the art. For example, a subject can be given a pain assessment test in which the subject quantifies the degree of pain based on a scale. One example would be assigning the subject's pain a number based on a scale of 1 to 10, where a “10” would indicate the worst degree of pain the subject might imagine. A pain measure of 4 from an original pain score of 8 would be a 50% reduction in pain. Thus, the amount of conjugate required to achieve that 50% reduction in pain could be considered 1 U of the botulinum toxin component-targeting moiety component conjugate. Alternatively, the subject's pain may be measured as the duration of pain. One unit of the conjugate of the invention would accordingly reduce the duration of pain by 50%. In addition, a number of physiological measures, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and diaphoresis, may be used individually or in combination to quantify a subject's pain. These procedures may also be used in combination with the subjective methods described above, to quantify the amount of the subject's pain.

Example 2 Treatment of Neurogenic Inflammation Pain

A patient, age 45, experiencing acute neurogenic inflammation pain is treated by intravenous administration with between about 0.1 U/kg and about 30 U/kg, (for example, about 4 U), of an agent comprising an LH_(N) botulinum toxin type A-substance P conjugate. Within 1-7 days after agent administration the patient's pain is substantially alleviated. The duration of pain reduction is from about 2 to about 6 months.

Example 3 Treatment of Neurogenic Inflammation Pain

A patient, age 36, experiencing inflammation pain of neurogenic origin is treated by direct administration to the site of pain of between about 0.1 U/kg and about 30 U/kg, (for example, from about 1 U to about 10 U), of an agent comprising a botulinum toxin type A L chain-substance P conjugate. A physician of ordinary skill may readily determine the dosage, site of injection, and frequency of administration. Within 1-7 days the pain symptoms are substantially alleviated. The duration of pain reduction is from about 2 to about 6 months.

Example 4 Treatment of Neurogenic Inflammation Pain

A patient, age 45, experiencing acute neurogenic inflammatory pain is treated by administration, for example by injection directly to a site of pain with an amount of an agent comprising botulinum toxin type A, B, C, D, E, F and/or G H_(N) and type A, B, C, D, E, F and/or G L chain-substance P, substance P analog and/or substance P fragment conjugate that reduces pain in the subject by about 50%. A physician of ordinary skill may readily determine the dosage, method of administration, and frequency of administration. Within 1-7 days after agent administration the patient's pain is alleviated by about 50% (in particular, the patient's pain score is originally a 6, and after treatment, the patient scores his pain as a 3). The duration of pain reduction is from about 2 to about 6 months.

Example 5 Treatment of Neurogenic Inflammation Pain

A patient, age 36, experiencing neurogenic inflammation pain (score of 8) is treated by intravenous administration of about 1 U to about 20 U of an agent comprising a botulinum toxin type A, B, C, D, E, F and/or G L chain-substance P, substance P analog and/or substance P fragment conjugate that reduces the pain in the subject by about 80% (score of about 1 to about 2). A physician of ordinary skill may readily determine the dosage and frequency of administration. Within 1-7 days the pain symptoms are reduced by about 80%. The duration of pain reduction is from about 2 to about 6 months.

Example 6 Treatment of Fibromyalgia

A 37-year old woman complains of pain “all over,” specifically in the occiput, neck, shoulders, lower back, hips, and right leg.

At the time of evaluation, the patient complains specifically of occipital headache, which she describes as burning and aching. She complains of neck pain and stiffness. Aching pain in the upper back and shoulders is constant, as is pain in a band-like fashion across the lower back. She also notes a great increase in her upper back and neck pain. The patient injures her lower back one year prior to this evaluation—while working as a nurse's aide as she transfers a patient. She subsequently continues to experience lower back, hip, and right leg pain and stiffness.

Upon examination, it is found that the patient tests positive for pain sensitivity in 11 of the 18 fibromyalgia tender points. Specifically, tenderness is present in the left and right occiput, the left and right cervical regions, the left and right trapizious, the left and right gluteal, the left and right supraspinatus and the right greater trochanter. A diagnosis of fibromyalgia is made.

The patient is treated by injection of about 1 to about 40 units of botulinum toxin type A LH_(N)-substance P conjugate into tendon insertion sites near the perceived sources of pain. Within one week of treatment, the patient notes a substantial decrease in pain felt throughout her body. Pain relief lasts for approximately eight months.

Example 7 Treatment of Myofascial Pain Syndrome

A physical examination reveals a 38-year old woman who suffers nerve damage in an auto accident at the age of 28. She suffers from a steady pain in addition to allodynia in her legs. The patient walks with a normal gait and is able to perform heel walk and toe walk without difficulty. Range of motion of the lumbar and cervical spine is complete. Motor and sensory examination of the upper and lower extremities reveals mild S1 sensory loss on the right side. Reflexes are intact at the knees and ankles.

Radiographics of the cervical and lumbar spine are essentially normal demonstrating only mild degenerative changes.

The patient is diagnosed with myofacial pain syndrome and is treated with injections of about 1 to about 60 units of botulinum toxin type A L chain, type B H_(N) hybrid LH_(N)-substance P conjugate. A physician of ordinary skill may readily determine the dosage, method of administration, and frequency of administration. After approximately 6 days the patient reports herself to be pain free. The relief from pain lasts approximately 6 months at which time the injections are repeated.

Example 8 Treatment of Irritable Bowel

A 30 year old man visits his family physician with chief complaints of persistent pain in the upper and lower back, indigestion, constant tiredness and frequent urination.

The man discloses bouts of gastrointestinal discomfort, both before and after meals. The patient denies any drug use or cigarette smoking, except for an occasional alcoholic drink. Visual observation reveals a man not under distress. Cranial tests are normal. Reflexes are normal. A blood chemistry is ordered. With an exception of a slightly lower K+ level, all other values are normal. Antinuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, creatine kinase, magnesium, lyme titre, and thyroid function tests are negative. A diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome is made. The physician prescribes injections of about 1 to about 10 units of botulinum toxin type A LH_(N)-substance P conjugate into the wall of the lower small intestine. After one week, the patient reports only mild relief. A further injection is made using about 1 to about 40 units of the same conjugate agent. Pain relief of up to 80% is realized one week after this treatment.

Example 9 Treatment of Migraine Headache

A 34-year-old woman seeks medical attention for migraine headache. The patient reports the symptoms persisting for approximately 5 years. In addition, the patient reports an inability to obtain restful sleep. The patient has been prescribed numerous medications over the years including tylenol III, Propanolol hydrochloride, Dihydroergotamine mesylate, Naratriptan hydrochloride, Sumatriptan succinate and Zolmitriptan. All have met with moderate to little effect.

The patient is intravenously injected with about 1 to about 120 units of a botulinum toxin type A L chain, type B H_(N), LH_(N)-substance P conjugate.

At 1 week a physical examination reveals no sign of migraine headache pain. Pain relief last for approximately 9 months.

Example 10 Treatment of Arthritis

A patient, age 45, complains of pain in the back and left hip. The patient also reports symptoms of pain and lack of mobility in his left wrist, and in several of his fingers. The patient is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The patient is treated by an injection of about 1 to about 50 units of a botulinum toxin type A L chain, type B H_(N) hybrid LH_(N)-substance P conjugate and or a botulinum toxin type A L chain-substance P conjugate into or near the regions of pain. A physician of ordinary skill may readily determine the specific dosage, site of injection, and frequency of administration. Within 1-7 days after administration the patient's pain is substantially alleviated. The duration of the pain alleviation is from about 1 to about 6 months.

Example 11 Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis

Upon examination, a 56 year old woman complains of chronic pelvic pain, pain with sexual relations, sleep difficulties and incontinence. The patient also reports symptoms of irritable bowel and fatigue. She states that she is suffering from these symptoms for over a year and that just recently the pain is increasing substantially. A diagnosis of interstitial cystitis is made. The patient is treated by injection of about 2 to about 200 units of botulinum toxin type A LH_(N)-substance P conjugate into the bladder wall. A physician of ordinary skill may readily determine the specific dosage, site of injection, and frequency of administration. Within 1-7 days after modified neurotoxin administration the patient's pain is substantially alleviated. The duration of the pain alleviation is from about 7 to about 27 months.

Example 12 Treatment of Pain Associated with Fibromyalgia Tender Points

A 36 year old woman has a 15 year history of chronic pain in the upper torso area. Fifteen years prior to evaluation she notes a decrease in mobility in her left elbow and knees. The pain in the left side of her body is thought to be worse than in the right. Upon examination it is revealed that the patient is pain sensitive to firm pressure that is applied sequentially to eight of the eighteen fibromyalgia tender points. In order for a diagnosis of fibromyalgia to be made, 11 of the 18 fibromyalgia tender points must be pain sensitive to application of pressure. Since this standard is not met, the patient is not diagnosed as having fibromyalgia. She is treated with antidepressant medication including amytriptyline (Elavil). The medication has little effect on the level of pain experienced by the patient.

The patient is injected with about 1 to about 20 units of botulinum toxin type A L chain-substance P conjugate into the sites where the patient perceives the pain to originate. A physician of ordinary skill may readily determine the specific dosage, site of injection, and frequency of administration.

Several days after the injections she notes substantial improvement in her pain. This gradually improves over a 2 to 3 week period in which she notes increased mobility in her elbow and knee joints. The patient states that the pain is better than at any time in the last 4 years. The improved condition persists for up to 6 months. 

1. A method for treating neurogenic inflammation in a patient, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent to the patient, the administration reducing the secretion of inflammation producing molecules thereby treating the neurogenic inflammation, wherein the agent comprises a botulinum toxin proteolytic domain, a botulinum toxin heavy chain H_(N) and a targeting moiety, wherein the botulinum toxin light chain, the botulinum toxin heavy chain H_(N) and the targeting moiety are covalently linked together, and wherein the targeting moiety is a substance P or a substance P component effective in binding to a substance P receptor.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the botulinum toxin proteolytic domain is a botulinum toxin serotype A proteolytic domain, a botulinum toxin serotype B proteolytic domain, a botulinum toxin serotype C1 proteolytic domain, a botulinum toxin serotype D proteolytic domain, a botulinum toxin serotype E proteolytic domain, a botulinum toxin serotype F proteolytic domain, or a botulinum toxin serotype G proteolytic domain.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the botulinum toxin heavy chain H_(N) is a botulinum toxin serotype A heavy chain H_(N), a botulinum toxin serotype B heavy chain H_(N), a botulinum toxin serotype C, heavy chain H_(N), a botulinum toxin serotype D heavy chain H_(N), a botulinum toxin serotype E heavy chain H_(N), a botulinum toxin serotype F heavy chain H_(N), or a botulinum toxin serotype G heavy chain H_(N).
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the botulinum toxin proteolytic domain comprises a botulinum toxin serotype A proteolytic domain.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the botulinum toxin heavy chain H_(N) comprises a botulinum toxin serotype A heavy chain H_(N).
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the agent is administered systemically.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the systemic administration is oral administration, intravenous administration, or administration as an inhalant.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the agent is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
 9. A method for treating neurogenic inflammation in a patient, the method comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of an agent to the patient, the administration reducing the secretion of inflammation producing molecules thereby treating the neurogenic inflammation, wherein the agent comprises botulinum neurotoxin LH_(N) fragment covalently linked to a targeting moiety, and wherein the targeting moiety is a substance P or a substance P component effective in binding to a substance P receptor.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the botulinum neurotoxin LH_(N) component is a botulinum neurotoxin serotype A LH_(N) fragment, a botulinum neurotoxin serotype B LH_(N) fragment, a botulinum neurotoxin serotype C₁ LH_(N) fragment, a botulinum neurotoxin serotype D LH_(N) fragment, a botulinum neurotoxin serotype E LH_(N) fragment, a botulinum neurotoxin serotype F LH_(N) fragment, or a botulinum neurotoxin serotype G LH_(N) fragment.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the botulinum toxin heavy chain LH_(N) fragment comprises a botulinum toxin serotype A heavy chain LH_(N) fragment.
 12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the agent includes one or more spacer regions between the LH_(N) fragment and the targeting moiety.
 13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the agent is administered systemically.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the systemic administration is oral administration, intravenous administration, or administration as an inhalant.
 15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the agent is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly. 